SOME TRUTHS & BENEFITS OF TRIALS;
DIVINE PERSPECTIVE…
1. – TRIALS Are Opportunities, to MATURE Spiritually – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be MATURE and complete, not lacking anything. .”-{James 1:2-4}
2. -TRIALS Are Opportunities To GROW WISE –“…If any of you lacks WISDOM, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. “- {James 1:5}
3. -TRIALS Are Opportunities to EXPRESS LOVE TO HIM – “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who LOVE Him.”-{James 1:12}
4. – TRIALS FUTURE REWARD, is to Receive THE CROWN OF LIFE;
“….the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE”-{James 1:12}
Trials DON’T Mature us!! But Choosing to RESPOND God’s Way by APPLYING These 4 Commands Will!
Trials are PAINFUL! “Many Kinds,” or one translation says, “Various.” {v2}.The words speaks of trials of all kinds, different types. They can be of various degrees and lengths. But for the follower of Christ they have Purpose and we can have Divine Perspective when going through them and be able to help one another.
“OPEN BOOK” TEST;
NOTE, he says “When“- {v2}- not “If,” but “WHEN!” Trials are inevitable. If you are not presently in a trial or have come out of one there are trials ahead. That’s not to be depressive about it, it is just the way life is. “BUT GOD…” has told us how we are to handle them and it is like having a test at school, you might be nervous, anxious beforehand and then the teacher comes into the classroom and tells you it is going to be an “OPEN BOOK” test where you can look up the answers! How would you feel? Relieved, excited, thinking you are going to nail this, and if you can’t remember an answer or don’t know it, you can go to the book and read the answer!!
The “Open Book” test is not meant to hinder but HELP you. Imagine having an open book test and closing the book and not knowing the answers and failing and then blaming the book as not relevant, or the author! Hmm, sound familiar? We say with our actions His Word is not relevant as we do not believe He has our best interest at heart in the trial and we…fail again and again… and it all comes down to the fact we do not trust Him. We make the choice to do so.
A TRIAL WITH PURPOSE;
Paul wrote regarding one reason for a trial he and some others had experienced and the specific purpose it was designed to achieve in their lives at that time,“…Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead….”- {2 Cor 1:9}. God was weaning them of self reliance which is like building the foundation of your life upon sand… and onto TRUSTING HIM. And the means He was using to do so? Trials,”afflictions” – {Read 2 Cor 1:3-4} that they were encountering!
Trials are inevitable but not our choices in how we respond! But our choices are that…choices! We choose how we will respond, by faith in ourselves or faith in what He says and choosing to “Immediately commence Rejoicing”- as the command and grammatically says, because you “Know” what God is doing! He is out to mature you spiritually! “Let” means to submit your will to Him in the circumstances by choosing to rejoice because you “know ” what He is doing and “Ask” for wisdom and He will give it to you in the trials and the outcome is spiritual growth,maturity and God is honored!
God is not out to destroy you but develop you and display Himself to you and through you.
PROVISION;
Trials when handled God’s way in accordance to choosing to Obey his Word will produce Spiritual benefits according to James 1:2-5- four commands. 1. “Count,” means to immediately commence rejoicing. 2. “Knowing” has to do with an understanding mind” 3.”Let” means to submit. 4. “Ask”… for “wisdom,” to see Life from God’s view. Practical understanding to live life through God;s view and practcally apply His Word to them.These four commands never change irrespective of the trial.
Trials are PAINFUL. Difficult. Hard. Stressful and of “Many kinds,” or some translation says “Various.” Trials are different lengths and types. Everyone who is alive encounters trials. The word “Encounter,” is used in the story of the good samaratin the word means “to fall into…“unexpectedly, suddenly” he was set upon.Sometimes trials are like that, “unexpectedly” out of the blue something happens. All people experience trials, it’s part of life. They can seem aimless but for the follower of Christ they have purpose and we can have Divine Perspective when going through them and be able to help one another…
POTENTIAL;
In Your trial here is the Potential for you to…
1. – MATURE Spiritually
2. – Grow in WISDOM
3. – Express LOVE to Him
4.- Receive THE CROWN OF LIFE
What are the 4 Commands for every Trial?
What are the 4 Potential Opportunities to Benefit you and others who CHOOSE To handle trials God’s Way?
Since you will encounter Trials doesn’t it make sense to know where in the BOOK these answers can be found not only for you personally but so you can help OTHERS.
Perhaps you can commit James 1:2-5 and verse 12 to memory for His Glory in responding his Way and helping others in their trials! Hope this helps you…
God is not out to destroy you but develop you and display Himself to you and through you.
God bless and encourage you in your trials… Think On His Person, Perspective, Provision and Potential…